Maryland’s Blue Hen

What do we value about our natural resources? How can we be empowered to make sure they continue to thrive?

University of Delaware alumnus Josh Kurtz, Maryland's Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, often finds himself asking those questions as he looks at what can be done to improve the region's water resources. And because of the location and scope of Maryland waterways, the impact reaches millions of people within the state and across the Mid-Atlantic region.

"I have a 9-month-old," Kurtz said during a January interview. "So I'm even more cognizant of what we're doing now for the next generation."

Since March 2023, Kurtz has steered Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, protecting the state's waterways, wildlife, parks and forests. A UD Class of 2008 graduate with a bachelor of science in wildlife ecology and conservation, Kurtz credits the University with establishing his career foundation and ability to understand science.

"When we're doing good advocacy work, when we're doing good policymaking," Kurtz said, "it's all based in sound data and sound science."

Initially, Kurtz was on track for a wildlife management undergraduate degree at another institution. But a desire to be closer to home in Maryland motivated him to transfer into UD as a junior. Kurtz quickly made connections and sought out research opportunities.

Kurtz enrolled in hands-on conservation courses at UD: ornithology, mammal biology, and entomology, to name a few. He sought out internships and field work to advance his interests in ecology and conservation.

An avid birder, he conducted undergraduate research with Greg Shriver, professor of wildlife ecology, collecting blood samples from wood thrush in UD's on-campus Ecology Woods to look at the birds' mercury levels. The study aimed to determine what impact blood mercury levels could have on wood thrushes' ability to reproduce.

While Kurtz was working in the woods lot, he witnessed a success story. A male eastern towhee cared for wood thrush baby birds. The eastern towhee fed the young birds and defended them in their nests.